History 101 Spring 2023
Class One, History 101
San Ysidro Room 5204
Rich Gibson, PhD. Pennsylvania State University
Emeritus Professor, SDSU
Professor, SWC
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
Week One Meeting 1
February 28
1953 – James Watson and Francis Crick announce to friends that they have determined the chemical structure of DNA; the formal announcement takes place on April 25 following publication in April’s Nature
1991 – The first Gulf War ends.
- 1993 – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents raid the Branch Davidian church in Waco, Texas with a warrant to arrest the group’s leader David Koresh. Four ATF agents and six Davidians die in the initial raid, starting a 51-day standoff.
In most classes, we will ask, What IS up?” That is a brief discussion of our social context which is, or will be, history. The exercise demonstrates connections of the past to the present.
Today, let us quickly list world crises that history can explain, and that as future historians, you will be able to make sense of things, Thus making better decisions about what to do.
Agenda:
1. The Class Size Problem, the pandemic, masks, and My Solutions
2. Questions: Who are you? From? Why are you here? Why take this class? What are you curious about?
b. Who is this professor anyway? Details….I’m curious…
2. What is history? What were you taught about history? How was it taught? Why? What do you remember most clearly? Why?
3. Why have school? This is an examination of critical analysis, checking contradictions and searching for a material base.
***What is the promise and purpose of school?
***What are the main things going on in school?
***What is the social context of school?
***What cannot be taught in K12 schools?
***What is the critical nature of Public Schooling?
For next class–read the syllabus. I will show you how to find it.
4. If there is time, what’s up?
Week One Meeting 2 —
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
March 2
- 1919 – The first Communist International meets in Moscow
- 1937 – The Steel Workers Organizing Committee signs a collective bargaining agreement with U.S. Steel, leading to unionization of the United States steel industry.
- 1965 – The US and Republic of Vietnam Air Force begin Operation Rolling Thunder, a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam.
Our Agenda
What IS up?
***Russia and Ukraine–day after day
***NYTimes Obit on Attica
***Some additional crises on top of endless war, booming inequality (c0lor coded)
The c0vid, add–inflation, the end of the food stamp bonus, Biden will fail on student debt bailout, and Trump ruined the branches of government, 5 Investigations of Trump, Immigration, January 6th, and beyond.
It is a volatile world.
History can help as a line of defense
***You Can Learn a lot, selectively, from PBS–See Freedom Summer
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/freedomsummer/#part01
1. Questions about the syllabus? Vietnam and Middle East Units, then back to chronology
2. Review: What is history? It is a battleground
3. Why have School? See questions in class one.
Week 2 Class 3
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
The World at War Series is online–here is the key battle of WWII-Stalingrad
March 7
1950 – Cold War: The Soviet Union issues a statement denying that Klaus Fuchs served as a Soviet spy.
- 1965 – Bloody Sunday: A group of 600 civil rights marchers is brutally attacked by state and local police in Selma, Alabama.
American Experience Freedom Riders
https://www.pbs.org/video/american-experience-freedom-riders/
- 1986 – Challenger Disaster: Divers from the USS Preserver locate the crew cabin of Challenger on the ocean floor.
What is UP?
***Ukraine and WW3–See New Yorker Viewpoint–What is an Empire? What is Nationalism? Ruskies Use Mercenaries!!!!
***Coal Miners’ Strike Sold out after two years
1. Questions About Syllabus? It is on Canvas now but I do not use canvas much.
2. Review what is history
3. Why Have School??? See questions below.
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What is the promise of school?
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Main things going on in schools?
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What is the social context of US schooling, that is, what is going on in society?
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What of PUBLIC schooling?
4. Chalmers Johnson (San Diegan author of the great Nemesis trilogy) says that Americans are so unaware of history they cannot connect cause and effect. Is that true? Why, or why not? Proof? What is our social context today?
Week 2 Meeting 4
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
History is a set of lies agreed upon. Napoleon Bonaparte
March 9th
1916 – Mexican Revolution: Pancho Villa leads nearly 500 Mexican raiders in an attack against the border town of Columbus, New Mexico.
1945 – World War II: A coup d’état by Japanese forces in French Indochina removes the French from power
1945 – World War II: Allied forces carry out firebombing over Tokyo, destroying most of the capital and killing over 100,000 civilians
1954 – McCarthyism: CBS television broadcasts the See It Now episode, “A Report on Senator Joseph McCarthy“, produced by Fred Friendly.
1987 – Chrysler announces its acquisition of American Motors Corporation (BIG FISH Eat Kittle Fish_
What is up?
***Ukraine–battle of Bachmud
***Mexico Murdered Americans and Kidnapped Americans found in two days—over 100,000 Mexicans still missing–including the students
***Protests in Georgia–the Country–another Color Revolution?
General Strike in France over Retirement Age and Women’s Strike in Iran
“I hate Trump passionately”—Tucker Carlson of Fox News
Our Agenda
***The real end of the Seal Story
***Continuing Why Have School after Corruption
***What is the promise of school?
Main things going on in schools?
What is the social context of US school? What is going on in society?
What of PUBLIC Schooling?
What is the Material Base of Schools?
If there is time— We will work through the Master/Slave exercise here: http://richgibson.com/masterslave2.htm
Next week we will begin the Vietnam Unit–it’s on my main web page–you might want to begin to read it.
Week Three
A major bank failure (actually three) took place over the weekend. The government moved to bail out the banks in ways similar to 2008. Whether or not this will lead to a wider collapse is unclear. The brief video clip from “The Big Short” will give you an easy to understand explanation of why the 2008 collapse happened.
I believe several colleagues are not very aware of what happened on January 6–the fascist coup attempt at the capital. The US government report (whose views I do not share) is linked in the video clip below. Everyone in the US should be aware of that event.
Good health to you, every one. RG
March 16
Why are things as they are?
We make 0ur own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
- 1935 – Adolf Hitler orders Germany to rearm herself in violation of the Treaty of Versailles. Conscription is reintroduced to form the Wehrmacht.
What is Fascism?
https://richgibson.com/fascism.html
- 1945 – World War II: The Battle of Iwo Jima ends, but small pockets of Japanese resistance persist.
1968 – Vietnam War: My Lai Massacre occurs; between 347 and 500 Vietnamese villagers are killed by American troops.
1988 – Iran–Contra affair: Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North and Vice Admiral John Poindexter are indicted on charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States
- 1995 – Mississippi formally ratifies the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, becoming the last state to approve the abolition of slavery.[23] The Thirteenth Amendment was officially ratified in 1865.
https://youtu.be/EDKhVBvGzU4
Long Live the Memory of the Paris Commune of 1871 (painting by Diego Rivera)
https://scontent.fsan1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/336336951_981782126120059_1201133925498835265_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s960x960&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=e3f864&_nc_ohc=NAM4DGetwrAAX-XTddU&_nc_ht=scontent.fsan1-1.fna&oh=00_AfBTJsfPP88w3HngsNR07m7RaJJSWmQOZuh2p2dihEnbIg&oe=641787AA
Our Agenda
What is UP?
Let us talk about Atmospheric Rivers vs Rain
Three Major Bank Failures took place in the last week. SVB, Standard, and Credit Suisse. The first to are US. The third is Swiss. Now, First Republic bank is up in the air.
Biden is bailing out the banks and the over-FDIC depositers.
This will amount to millions, perhaps billions, of dollars.
To millionaires.
But my friend, a teacher who has taught for twenty years in San Diego, won’t get bailed out, from 20 thousand dollars of student debt.
The US has had financial collapse after collapse. Why? What was done? Who gained?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_economic_crises
What is a Ponzi scheme?
Below is a nice metaphor for the 2008 collapse.
The banks were bailed out at $12.9 trillion. Trillion! Millions of people lost their homes. Losses were socialized, profits were privatized.
How much is a trillion?
What did the bankers promise?
Frontline PBS on how the current financial crisis happened:
Continuing the Master/Slave exercise in critical thinking. It is the classic Critique of Tyranny.
https://richgibson.com/masterslave.htm
If there is time–what is capitalism?Why repeated bank failures, financial crises?
List of Financial Crises
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_economic_crises
Too Big To Fail is taken from a book by the same name. The movie is excellent, faithfully following the book.
Remember, what is imperialism
Then on to the unit on Vietnam.
Week Four
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history but not in circumstances we chose.
We can comprehend and change the world.
“politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.”
―
Week of March 20
March 21
1921 – The New Economic Policy is implemented by the Bolshevik Party in response to the economic failure as a result of war communism.
- 1921 – The New Economic Policy is implemented by the Bolshevik Party in response to the economic failure as a result of war communism.
1928 – Charles Lindbergh is presented
with the Medal of Honor for the first solo trans-Atlantic flight
Lindbergh, like Ford, was a fascist. Why is all this stuff named after them?
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/lindbergh-fallen-hero/
- 1952 – Alan Freed presents the Moondog Coronation Ball, the first rock and roll concert, in Cleveland, Ohio.
March 23
1919 – In Milan, Italy, Benito Mussolini founds his Fascist political movement
- 1933 – The Reichstag passes the Enabling Act of 1933, making Adolf Hitler dictator of Germany. Again, what is fascism?
https://richgibson.com/fascism.html
Extensions from Previous Discussions and readings
J.B. Foster’s short essay summarizing his book on the Great Financial Crisis https://monthlyreview.org/2010/10/01/the-great-financial-crisis-three-years-on/
Lyrics (to the tune of John Brown’s Body)
Harvest of Loneliness–the Bracero Program, by Gil Gonzalez
https://www.google.com/search?q=harvest+of+loneliness&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj6nJOsueb9AhUlhe4BHby0CmkQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1024&bih=568&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:99c2e49a,vid:PcV2EOo-Xdc
What is UP?
***Twenty Years on, The IRAQ War
***LAUSD Fake Three Day Strike—And INFLATION and Planned Layoffs of Millions!
Continuing–What is Capitalism?
https://richgibson.com/gateways.htm
Week of April 4th
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
April 4
- 1925 – The Schutzstaffel (SS) is founded under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party in Germany.
- 1949 – Cold War: Twelve nations sign the North Atlantic Treaty creating the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
1967 – Martin Luther King Jr. delivers his “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” speech in New York City’s Riverside Church. Exactly one year later he was murdered
- 1975 – Vietnam War: A United States Air Force Lockheed C-5A Galaxy transporting orphans, crashes near Saigon, South Vietnam shortly after takeoff, killing 172 people. This was a CIA psyops operation.
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda:
***What’s Up?
Trump Indicted to appear in court today
War drags on in Ukraine–Why? Read Sun Tzu!
Tatarsky …..Kablooey!
Finland Joins Nato–history! Geography! Sun Tzu on War—again!
Nato Countries (now 31) https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/nato_countries.htm
More?
How to think about how things change in the real world
https://richgibson.com/diamatoutline.html
https://richgibson.com/scedialectical4.htm
How would YOU draw history?
What is racism?
If there is time, on to Vietnam Wars
APRIL 6th
Please display name cards in each class.
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Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
It is not the consciousness of men that determines their existence, but, on the contrary, their social existence determines their consciousness. At a certain stage of their development the material forces of production in society come into conflict with the existing relations of production, or — what is but a legal expression for the same thing — with the property relations within which they had been at work before. From forms of development of the forces of production these relations turn into their fetters. Then comes the period of social revolution. Marx Critiqye of Political Economy.
1930 – At the end of the Salt March, Gandhi raises a lump of mud and salt and declares, “With this, I am shaking the foundations of the British Empire
- 2010 – Maoist rebels kill 76 CRPF officers in Dantewada district, India. NAXALITES! What is a Maoist?
What IS Up?
More on Trump Indictments: Trump paid, over time, through lawyer Michael Cohen (who did a year for other crimes) Stormy Daniels, porn star and hooker, $130,000 for her time. Daniels’ story was killed by editor David Pecker.
Trump also paid another woman and a door man. He listed those expenses as legal fees, and filed that with election officials.
Trump is being investigated for, and will probably be indicted for, his role in the January 6th fascist coup attempt.
Trump is also being investigated for stealing top secret documents, hiding them in Mara-la-Go and deliberately failing to turn them over when demanded by authorities. This happened on several occasions.
He is also being investigated for financial crimes in NY State.
Maryland–new report on Catholic Clergy Child Rape https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/04/05/baltimore-archdiocese-catholic-sex-abuse-report/
America and the Taliban: Part One (full documentary) | FRONTLINE
Pending Questions
What is fascism? Socialism? Communism? Anarchism? Sexism?
We have defined capitalism, imperialism, racism, democracy, republic but if you have questions please ask.
Back to Vietnam at Dien Bien Phu (decisive battle 1954)
Week of April 11
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said ‘Let us pray.’ We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land. Desmond Tutu
April 11
Lyrics to Marseilles and full video of the French National Anthem, from the French Revolution:
https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/periods-genres/national-anthems/marseillaise-french-lyrics-meaning/
1945 – World War II: American forces liberate the Buchenwald concentration camp.
1951 – Korean War: President Truman relieves Douglas MacArthur of the command of American forces in Korea and Japan.
- 1961 – The trial of Adolf Eichmann begins in Jerusalem.
Full movie–the Trial of Eichman
WHAT IS FASCISM?
https://richgibson.com/fascism.html
A Synopsis of Fascism And Social Revolution
https://richgibson.com/synopsisfascim.htm
Back to Vietnam (Duck and Cover!)
April 13
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
REMEMBER–LONG PAPERS DUE THIS WEEK! CATCH UP!
“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.” Henry David Thoreau
- 1941 – A pact of neutrality between the USSR and Japan is signed.
- 1953 – CIA director Allen Dulles launches the mind-control program Project MKUltra.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znri_so-xxY
- 1970 – An oxygen tank aboard the Apollo 13 Service Module explodes, putting the crew in great danger and causing major damage to the Apollo command and service module (codenamed “Odyssey“) while en route to the Moon.
2017 – The US drops the largest ever non-nuclear weapon on Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan.
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
What is UP?
***Conscription (the draft) in Russia
***Four sailors in the same Navy command in Norfolk, Virginia appeared to have died by suicide in less than a month. It’s the second time in a year that the Navy has been confronted with a rash of suicide deaths. Kayla Arestivo, co-founder of the nonprofit Trails of Purpose, joins Geoff Bennett to discuss the ongoing mental health crisis within the military. PBS
***UC Chancellor gets $500 thousand raise while UC has homeless students
UC San Diego chancellor given $500,000 pay raise to prevent him from taking presidency at unnamed private school
America and the Taliban Part 2
https://www.pbs.org/video/america-and-the-taliban-part-two-lf2bs7/
Back to Vietnam–The Chinese Cultural Revolution!
Week of April 17
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
“We can learn from history, but we can also deceive ourselves when we selectively take evidence from the past to justify what we have already made up our minds to do.” Diderot
April 18
- 1942 – World War II: The Doolittle Raid on Japan: Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe and Nagoya are bombed.
- 1943 – World War II: Operation Vengeance, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is killed when his aircraft is shot down by U.S. fighters over Bougainville Island.
1945 – Italian resistance movement: In Turin, despite the harsh repressive measures adopted by Nazi-fascists, a great pre-insurrectional strike begins
1988 – In Israel John Demjanjuk is sentenced to death for war crimes committed in World War II, although the verdict is later overturned
What is Up?
***Gitmo Torture Demo in Trial
***Fat Leonard and the Corrupt Navy
‘Sad, distraught’: New court filing adds details to last weeks before ‘Fat Leonard’ escape
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2023-04-13/fat-leonard-officer-new-trial-motion[
***Dominion Voting Machines vs Fox News
***A Synopsis of Sun Tzu–why couldn’t the US Generals in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam, learn from Sun Tzu?
Back to Vietnam and the aftermath–recapturing the empire
Remember the Chicago Seven (eight)
April 19 and 20
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
Too many of our colleagues are too far behind. By now, you should have submitted two short essays and one long one. CATCH UP!
April 19
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, 1943.
April 20
1914 – Nineteen men, women, and children participating in a strike are killed in the Ludlow Massacre during the Colorado Coalfield War
- 1961 – Cold War: Failure of the Bay of Pigs Invasion of US-backed Cuban exiles against Cuba.
- 1999 – Columbine High School massacre: Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold kill 13 people and injure 24 others before committing suicide at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado.
Investigators say near-collision of Navy ships in San Diego Bay was a preventable incident
April 20, 1889
Trump issues NFT Playing Cards Part 2
Trump with Epstein and G. Maxwell
Back to Vietnam after the Pentagon Papers
On To Mayday 1971
But, What is the significance of Mayday?
And how is May 1 celebrated in the US today?
Week of April 25
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Catch up! Catch Up! Catch UP!
Our Phantasmagoric Agenda
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
We can comprehend and change the world.
“Even the finest sword plunged into salt water will eventually rust.” Sun Tzu (Think Vietnam).
April 25
2001 – President George W. Bush pledges U.S. military support in the event of a Chinese attack on Taiwan
- 2004 – The March for Women’s Lives brings between 500,000 and 800,000 protesters, mostly pro-choice, to Washington D.C. to protest the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, and other restrictions on abortion.
2014 – The Flint water crisis begins when officials at Flint, Michigan switch the city’s water supply to the Flint River, leading to lead and bacteria contamination upon the citizens
What is UP?
***Biden Running Again–at 80
***So Long, Tucker! So long, Don! Media firings!
*Corrupt SCOTUS Thomas
***PBS Frontline America vs the Taliban part 3 airs tonight and will be online–watch it! We will do SE Asia and Iraq soon.
***Trump on trial for Rape
***Musk’s Three BILLION dollar failure (yuk yuk)
***Harry Belefonte Died
On To Vietnam and a Great New Book!
Our Agenda April 27
Please display name cards in each class.
Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in Sign in!
Why are things as they are?
We make our own history, but not in circumstances we chose.
“We can comprehend and change the world.” (Gibson)
April 27
- 1945 – World War II: Benito Mussolini is arrested by Italian partisans in Dongo, while attempting escape disguised as a German soldier.
1978 – John Ehrlichman, a former aide to U.S. President Richard Nixon, is released from the Federal Correctional Institution, Safford, Arizona, after serving 18 months for Watergate-related crimes
- 1989 – The April 27 demonstrations, student-led protests responding to the April 26 Editorial, during the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989.
What is Up?
***Don’t Forget Mayday, the International Workers’ Holiday!
***Israel!
***Trump on Trial
***Killer Alec Baldwin back on “Rust”
***Two New Books!
Required Reading in Florida Schools (only 99 dollars)
Admiral McRaven (Seal Boss)
![The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) by [Admiral William H. McRaven]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Y8xJVenVL.jpg)
On To S.E. Asia and the Middle East
Week of Mayday! The International Workers holiday!
May 2nd
- 1941 – Following the coup d’état against Iraq Crown Prince ‘Abd al-Ilah earlier that year, the United Kingdom launches the Anglo-Iraqi
- War to restore him to power.
World War II: The Soviet Union announces the fall of Berlin.
1964 – Vietnam War: An explosion sinks the American aircraft carrier USNS Card while it is docked at Saigon. Two Viet Cong combat swimmers had placed explosives on the ship’s hull.
- 1982 – Falklands War: The British nuclear submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano.
- 1986 – Chernobyl disaster: The City of Chernobyl is evacuated six days after the disaster.
- 1989 – Cold War: Hungary begins dismantling its border fence with Austria, which allows a number of East Germans to defect.
- 2011 – Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the September 11 attacks and the FBI‘s most wanted man, is killed by the United States special forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Questions? Comments? Criticism? Jokes?
Back to the Middle East and S.E. Asia
May 4th
Sign In!
We can comprehend and change the world.
We are responsible for our own history but not our birthrights
History will be kind to me for I intend to write it. Winston Churchill
1886 – Haymarket affair: In Chicago, United States, a homemade bomb is thrown at police officers trying to break up a labor rally, killing one officer. Ensuing gunfire leads to the deaths of a further seven officers and four civilians MAYDAY ORIGINS!
- 1961 – American civil rights movement: The “Freedom Riders” begin a bus trip through the South.
1970 – Vietnam War: Kent State shootings: The Ohio National Guard, sent to Kent State University after disturbances in the city of Kent the weekend before, opens fire killing four unarmed students and wounding nine others.
- 1989 – Iran–Contra affair: Former White House aide Oliver North is convicted of three crimes and acquitted of nine other charges; the convictions are later overturned on appeal.
Children sing for King’s Coronation
What is Up?
NO CLASS TUESDAY. Next THURSDAY IS OUR LAST CLASS!
***Droning Kremlin and Putin! Ukraine? False Flag? Coup Plotters? Who?
***So Long, History!
***Proud Boys Convicted of Sedition
Back to the Middle East and South East Asia–on to the Arab Spring (farce)
Week of May 8th
Sign in!
Please display name cards
Why are things as they are?
We make our own histories but not in circumstances we chose.
We can comprehend and change the world.
“America goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy.” John Quincy Adams, former president.
What is it to be free?
Portfolios due May 25!
In History
May 9 1800 John Brown Born–accelerator abolitionists who helped end slavery
1846 – The Donner Party of pioneers departs Independence, Missouri for California, on what will become a year-long journey of hardship and cannibalism Of the 87 members of the party, 48 survived the ordeal.
1998 – India conducts three underground atomic tests in Pokhran.
This week: 20th Anniversary of Iraq War Invasion—based on Lies (don’t notice)
https://www.c-span.org/video/?526698-1/20th-anniversary-iraq-war
What is UP?
Trump found guilty of libel and defamation in Caroll case–Owes her $5 million. CNN gave Trump Ninety Minutes of Prime Time on Wednesday? He lied!!!!!
***Waco, Timothy Mcveigh, to Ramsi Yousef (tried to blow up WTC) to Trump (“I am the retribution.”
The fascist, racist, sexist, anointed with oil as defenders of Protestants, Brit monarchs (read Tom Paine, this is America),crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The coronation cost 250 million.
Rep George Santos (who lied about everything) charged with money laundering, stealing public funds, wire fraud, lying to congress, etc., but he remains in Congress.
This is Clarence Thomas. He is on the Supreme Court and has been for about 30 years. He accepts hundreds of thousand of dollar in vacations, etc. from a right-wing billionaire. Thomas is a religious fanatic–or hypocrite?
Inflation and the many crises we listed in our first class (supreme court, presidency, congress, imperial wars, pandemic (not over) border crisis (and the “Beast”) segregation and school inequality, booming mysticism, persist. With an education, we can overcome
Pakistan is descending into chaos.
Now, in my everlasting effort to not be boring, let us take this poem and see how it might apply to connecting some history we know is ahead, and how it connects to what we have done in class.
Life travels upward in spirals.
Those who take pains to search the shadows
of the past below us, then, can better judge the
tiny arc up which they climb,
more surely guess the dim
curves of the future above them.
Review what we did and fond farewells. I will miss you. Thank you so much for your kindness–especially on my birthday. Now a note from Charlie and Woody. RG (Remember, portfolios due May 25!)